This small coastal island country has everything you need for a great vacation: forests, mountains, waterfalls, coastline, and delicious food and wine. We spent two weeks here, but we enjoyed the trip so much - we would definitely return!
Trip Itinerary
The ease of traveling via sailboat for the latter part of our trip made this itinerary possible without the hassle of moving our luggage each night. I would highly recommend charting a skipper or at least planning a day trip out on the Adriatic as there are over 1000 islands to explore!
Approximate Trip Cost
Approximate Cost: $6,000 USD for 2, including airfare
Destination Map
We started our trip by flying into the national capital of Zagreb. This was mostly because we wanted to visit Plitvice Lakes via rental car, but we really enjoyed the city of Zagreb too. Plitvice is a must see on a trip to Croatia, and worth spending the entire day, or even a few nights in the surrounding BnB's. Plitvice is about a 3 hour drive from Zagreb.
We then flew to Dubrovnik to spend the next couple days there. If you are a Game of Thrones fan- this is King's Landing. We were totally blown away by the preservation of the ancient city and walls, and the many people going about their lives in this UNESCO world heritage site. There are also so many cats! While we were here, we went kayaking, did a wine tour, and climbed up to the top of Mount Srd. We could have easily spent more time here, especially since there are so many day trips options from here, but our sailing trip awaited!
We traveled to Split via ferry from Dubrovnik, which we had heard was much more enjoyable than the bus. We spent the day in Split, riding around on bikes. Then, it was time for 8 days on a sail boat. With over 1000 islands, we knew we would never get to all of them, but this would at least give us a great introduction. We spent a night at each island we visited, and spent the day tasting wine, swimming, beachcombing, and even visiting some military bunkers. So much to see!
Helpful Links
We had a great experience with Med Sailors, and the questionnaire they put together for you to answer to determine your sailing companions resulted in some great new friends for us, from all around the world.
Though a bit out of the way from Coastal destinations, this UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park is worth the visit. We travelled via rental car on a day trip from Zagreb. The park trails are more 'walking' than 'hiking'.
Bikes are available for rent at the Northern entrance to the park for cash only. Pack a lunch and water as services are limited (at least in September).
A great way to get out and appreciate the old city walls from a new perspective. Also, you can see some amazing oceanside real estate, natural caves, and the haunted monastery on the island of Lokrum. We opted for the sunset kayak tour, which was beautiful and not too chilly.
One of the highlights of our trip- we visited many different wineries and an operational oyster farm. A day trip from Dubrovnik
Happy Adventures!
Stephanie